Description

The White-throated Monitor is a very large, stout lizard with strong, stocky limbs and sharp claws. The head has a bulbous snout, with slit-like nostrils nearer to the eyes than to the end of the snout. The back is dark grey-brown above, with 5 - 6 pale yellow dark-edged blotches.

Distribution

Throughout the savanna and semi-desert regions of the sub-continent, but absent from Western Cape. Elsewhere, to the savannas of East Africa.

Breeding

In early summer from 8 - 51 eggs are laid, depending on the size of the female. The eggs hatch in 110 - 120 days in captivity, but take much longer in the wild.

Diet

The diet consist mainly of millipedes, beetles, grasshoppers and land snails.